PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records, need for stressor verification, and need for examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and found the effective date to be February 26, 2009. The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, the highest available rating under the criteria for this condition. The Board finds that his symptoms more nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent since April 8, 2015. The initial evaluation for PTSD prior to that date remains unchanged.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the appellant's marital status and whether she was permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching the age of 18. The case will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The appeal for additional compensation for her dependent schoolchild S.A.L., from October 24, 2011, to August 11, 2013, was also denied.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal with respect to the claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and eye hemorrhages during a July 2015 Board hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing at the RO. The Veteran's claims for service connection and effective dates are pending.

The Board found that the reduction of the PTSD rating from 100% to 30% was not warranted and reinstated the prior rating of 100% retroactively effective October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied because the evidence did not establish an in-service stressor. The claims for psychiatric disability other than PTSD, low back disability, and cervical spine disability are currently pending.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the appeal is REMANDED to obtain outstanding VA and private treatment records, clarify whether there are any updated records from the Penn Sleep Center, and schedule the Veteran for appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to discrepancies in the August 2012 VA examination report and the need for a new opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim.

The Veteran's ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathies of the bilateral lower extremities, left knee disability, left eye cataract, and psychiatric disorder (PTSD) are all found to be related to his presumed in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current hearing loss disability in his left ear, and there is no evidence of such during service. For the acquired psychiatric disability claim, the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the Veteran's claim for PTSD due to military sexual trauma.

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is rated as 70 percent disabling, and the Board finds that he is unemployable due to his PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and adjudication of her service connection claim for drug abuse as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and providing opinions on whether any diagnosed psychiatric disorders are related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD was manifested by symptoms that most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 30 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have caused or contributed to his end-stage cardiac disease, which led to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability that meets the criteria for such disorders.